AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE in Washington

A United States web security firm cited in a report on Iran's internet censorship on Wednesday said any use in Iran of its software was "illegal and unauthorised".

John McNulty, chairman and chief executive of Secure Computing Corporation said his company "has sold no licenses to any entity in Iran".

The company was cited in a report on Tuesday by the OpenNet Initiative, a partnership of researchers that called Iran's internet censorship among the worst in the world and called the United States firm "complicit."

"We have been made aware of ISPs [Internet service providers] in Iran making illegal and unauthorised attempts to use of our software," Mr McNulty said. "Secure Computing is actively taking steps to stop this illegal use of our products. Secure Computing Corporation is fully committed to complying with the export laws, policies and regulations of the United States."

He noted that unless authorised by the US government, Secure Computing "prohibits export and re-export of Secure products, software, services, and technology to Iran and destinations subject to US embargoes or trade sanctions".

The OpenNet Initiative, a partnership of researchers from Harvard University, the University of Toronto and University of Cambridge, said in a report that Iran blocks access to sexual content, political websites, information on women's rights, "blogs" and other internet sites.